[1]. LOS ANGELS — After losing track of four children in as many weeks, US airline America West has changed its policy on children traveling alone. Other airlines are reviewing their policies. So are parents.

[2]. Annalise Woods, 11, was one of the children lost by America West. In mid-July she was placed on an airplane in Los Angels bound for Detroit by her mother, but then was transferred to the wrong connecting flight by airline personnel.

[3]. After an 18-hour trip that ended up taking her through Las Vegas

as well as Florida, she finally reached her waiting dad in Detroit.

[4]. “You lose luggage. You lose keys. You don’t lose a child!”

Annalise’s father, Bill McDaniel, said.

[5]. Following other incidents, America West announced that starting form September 10, it would fly unaccompanied children under 12 only on nonstop flights, preventing them from traveling to any destination that required a change of plane.

[6]. Jim Sabourin, vice-president of America West Airlines, said it is not the only airline that has had such incidents. Both Delta and Southwest recently had somewhat similar problems, he said.

[7]. Industry experts said the number of children traveling unaccompanied by adults has risen greatly. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates the number to be seven million a year.

[8]. The rising number of divorces, with parents living in different states, and grandparents who live far from grandchildren they want to see, has contributed to the higher number of children flying alone.

[9]. The Government Department of Transportation has received complaints from parents that the airline gave their children no adult escorts at midway airports between flights — even though they paid an